6 Hot Spring Hotels with Open-Air Baths You'll Want to Visit at Least Once

Among these, the one thing that people who want a special feeling when they travel pay attention to is a room with an open-air bath. Not only is it luxurious to have an open-air bath all to yourself, but the special experience of being able to enjoy an open-air bath with your family or partner is something that everyone dreams of at least once.

In this article, we will introduce six luxury hot spring inns across the country that have distinctive rooms with open-air baths.

[Akita] Relax in the peaceful space of a renovated old house and enjoy the nature of Satoyama

Kakunodate, Akita, is also known as the "Little Kyoto of Michinoku." Traditional buildings, including samurai residences, create a charming streetscape, making it a popular area with tourists from both within Japan and overseas. Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura is a hot spring inn located in the lush mountain valley, about 10 minutes by car from the center of the city.

The thatched roof of this traditional house, built over 200 years ago, is symbolic. The interior, filled with a Japanese atmosphere, is dotted with high-quality modern Japanese elements. The admiration for Western culture that Satake Shozan and Odano Naotake, the founders of Akita Ranga, had is the motif of the interior, and it is decorated with Kakunodate's traditional craft, "cherry bark crafts." The small hospitality that stands out in the quiet passage of time invites guests into an extraordinary world.

The biggest attraction is the semi-open-air baths in all rooms, which are fed directly from the source. The water here is pure hot spring water that gushed out from the premises in 2008. The spring water is soft to the touch, fine and clear, with no turbidity and no color. The alkaline simple spring water, known for its skin-beautifying effects, will soothe your body from the everyday fatigue, along with the lush greenery and starry sky.

A semi-open-air bath surrounded by natural wood, and the vast nature of Satoyama spreading out outside the window. It's the perfect combination to relax in the bath while feeling the earth in the clear air. If you relax in the bath and relax your mind, you may be able to honestly say things that you would normally be too embarrassed to say.

Furthermore, the cuisine will be planned and produced by Executive Chef Hiromitsu Nozaki of the famous two-star Michelin restaurant Buntokuyama in Minami-Azabu, Tokyo. Chef Yoshiharu Yabe of the same restaurant will present a different menu each month, using seasonal ingredients from Akita.

Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura is a high-class inn where you can enjoy natural hot springs and delicious food in a nostalgic and peaceful atmosphere, reminiscent of the original Japanese scenery of Satoyama and the atmosphere of an old-fashioned house.

Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura

[Wakayama] One of Japan's oldest hot springs with an infinity view of the Pacific Ocean

Wakayama's Nanki Shirahama has many photogenic spots, such as Engetsuto Island and Senjojiki. This area is also home to Shirahama Onsen, which is famous as one of the "Three Great Old Hot Springs of Japan" along with Dogo and Arima, and is a popular tourist destination for relaxation.

Among the Shirahama Onsen hot springs, the oldest hot spring is said to be "Miyuki-no-yu." At "Infinito Hotel & Spa Nanki Shirahama," you can enjoy this famous hot spring in a luxurious free-flowing bath while taking in the magnificent view.

Our top recommendation is the Ocean View Lanai Suite, a room where you can enjoy an open-air bath in a private space. A lanai is a traditional Hawaiian covered veranda, and in this room you can enjoy the open-air bath located on the lanai along with the ocean view.

Enjoy a luxurious time as you soak in the quality hot water and feel as if you have the Pacific Ocean all to yourself. If you feel like taking a break, sit on the couch and relax, read a book or get lost in thought. Spending time on the lanai will surely increase your satisfaction with your trip. It is a space where even if you don't have any conversations, just sharing this time will lead to happiness.

The large public bath also has an open view. There are two types of open-air baths with different themes, "Sea" and "Sky," and from both you can enjoy the endless infinity view, the sunset, the sounds of the waves, and the ever-changing seascape.

The large bath, "Subaru," has a unique spherical spout and is a mystical space where you can enjoy the magnificent view and the hot spring water.

The cuisine is Nanki Italian, made with local Wakayama ingredients, and authentic Japanese banquet dishes made with plenty of seasonal ingredients. In addition to the restaurant, the lounge "Pacific" is also popular as a casual cafe and bar. It is surprising that on a clear day you can see all the way to Shikoku.

The panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean that can be seen throughout the hotel is simply breathtaking. This hotel is filled with a sense of openness and exclusivity, allowing you to enjoy the infinity view to the fullest.

Infinite Hotel & Spa Nanki Shirahama

[Oita] Enjoy beauty baths and wagyu kaiseki at a forest resort overlooking Mount Yufu

Yufuin in Oita is also a famous hot spring known throughout Japan. We would like to introduce you to the "Kusayano-no-Yado Ryunohige/Bettei Yumuta" which has rooms with open-air baths. It is a forest resort like a hideaway located in the lush green mountains. The seasonal scenery including Mt. Yufu, the clear air, and the comfortable hot bath promise a blissful time.

There are five Ryunohige villas, which can be rented out as a whole. On the other hand, Bettei Yumuta has five guest rooms inside the villa. All ten of these rooms have different designs, ranging from Scandinavian traditional houses, Japanese modern, southern French style, and Asian taste.

For example, the "Kunugi" room at "Ryu no Hige" is a gorgeous room with a gentle, warm wooden feel that creates a Japanese modern atmosphere.

All rooms are equipped with semi-open-air baths, allowing you to enjoy a hot bath in a private space while immersed in the forest.

The private hot springs are of two types, weakly acidic and weakly alkaline, and the mixed hot springs are poured out of the baths, giving you the luxury of having them all to yourself. You can enjoy the beauty-enhancing hot spring waters that spring from within the premises to your heart's content.

You'll feel refreshed and refreshed as you soak in the hot springs while watching Mount Yufu change its appearance with each season. You'll also be able to talk about the future and spend the time recharging your energy for tomorrow.

The meals are original kaiseki cuisine prepared by Chef Masato Hino, who spent about 10 years training at luxury inns in Yufuin and Beppu. The specialty is carefully selected Japanese black beef from each prefecture in Kyushu, and you can choose from charcoal grilling, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu. Side dishes include local vegetables and other delicacies from the mountains and sea, and you can enjoy elaborate gourmet dishes that change monthly in your private room.

Enjoy Kyushu delicacies and a soothing hot spring in a different world decorated with the beauty of nature. Let yourself go with the flow of time and your daily fatigue will melt away.

Grass Roof Inn Ryunohige / Villa Yumuta

[Kanagawa] A long-established Japanese restaurant and inn nestled in the valley of Oku-Yugawara

Yugawara is one of Kanagawa's leading hot spring areas. Sansuirou is a long-established inn and restaurant that has been in business since 1933. As its name suggests, it is located in the valley of Okuyugawara, rich in the greenery of the mountains, and welcomes you into a tranquil space built in the sukiya style.

The rooms are designed with a view of the mountains or the clear streams, and the most popular is the "Jurakudai (Standard)" room on the top floor. It has an open-air observation bath and overlooks the Hakone outer rim. The layout is a purely Japanese-style space with a 12-tatami main room, a side room, or an anteroom.

In the open-air baths in your guest rooms, you can lose track of time as you enjoy a private bath. In an environment that feels as if it is surrounded by mountains, you can relax and enjoy a peaceful time. In the soft light of the morning sun, in the passionate colors of twilight, in the moonlight at night. This is an open-air bath that will make you want to bathe multiple times a day and fully enjoy this environment.

The open-air bath "Ozora" boasts a panoramic mountain view from the high ground, and on clear nights you can see a sky full of stars. Yugawara Onsen, which has been loved as a medicinal bath since ancient times, has soft, weakly alkaline spring water. You can spend a comfortable time listening to the rustling of wild birds and plants with the sound of a stream flowing nearby in the background.

Sansuirou, a traditional Japanese inn and restaurant, is famous for its cuisine. It serves an abundance of local seasonal ingredients, and one of its most popular dishes is a kaiseki meal topped with yuba. The smooth, creamy homemade yuba is highly acclaimed for its refined flavor. Another appealing feature is the skillful presentation, with dishes here and there telling the stories of great people connected to Yugawara.

In addition, the nearby sister hotel "Sea Pomegranate" has a walking trail in the garden where about 2,000 camellias of 100 varieties grow, and you can enjoy seasonal flowers along the clear stream. Yugawara is easily accessible from the airport, and this is a hotel you should keep in mind if you are looking for a room with an open-air bath.

Sansuirou

[Shizuoka] A hot spring inn with two types of baths in one building, like a rental villa

Located at the foot of Mt. Omuroyama in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, Oyado Uchiyama is a Japanese-style hot spring inn with a vast site of about 3300m2 and six types of detached buildings. The wooden houses, each with their own design based on the theme of Taisho era romance, promise a special time.

All six guest rooms are separate maisonettes. On the first floor, there is a 10-tatami Japanese-style room, a spacious veranda, and a room with a relaxing indoor bath and hearth. On the second floor, there are bedrooms as well as a large open-air bath with a panoramic view of the Izu Islands and the Amagi mountain range.

All rooms have both an indoor bath and an open-air bath, a luxury you can only get here. The spring quality is an alkaline simple spring that is gentle on the skin. In the indoor bath, you can enjoy the hot spring anytime without worrying about the cold. In addition, the rooftop open-air bath on the second floor can be used for private use only in your room, such as listening to the sunrise and birdsong in the morning, and enjoying the starry sky and a drink at night. As you spend your time here as you like, conversation is likely to naturally increase.

The cuisine is made with carefully selected seasonal ingredients, including local produce from Izu. The restaurant is proud of its delicate and elegant presentation in the Kyoto-style kaiseki style. The dinner features a wide variety of delicacies, and the special breakfast is also not to be missed. The clay pot rice, made with original rice polished by a rice master and cooked just in time, and the specialty abalone sauce are especially popular.

Located on the hills of Izu, this hot spring inn feels like a rental villa. If you want to enjoy your time to your heart's content without worrying about the public, come to Oyado Uchiyama. Why not use it to make precious memories with your best friend, partner, family, etc.?

Inn Uchiyama

[Shizuoka] An emotional experience of admiring Mt. Fuji floating in the ocean from an open-air bath

"Fugaku Gunjo" is an inn where you can enjoy a luxurious bath in the open-air bath in your room while looking out at the sacred Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay. It is about a 50-minute drive from Shuzenji, the oldest hot spring resort in Izu, also known as "Izu's Little Kyoto." All eight rooms with different themes have their own open-air hot spring bath, and the interior design carefully selected from around the world further enhances the luxurious atmosphere.

The guest room "Tsukimatsu" is a relaxing space with a leather sofa and warm wood interior. On the terrace, there is a round open-air bath made of cypress, giving you an extraordinary feeling.

"Yama no Oto" has a Japanese modern theme with a harmonious blend of white, black, and wood, and is characterized by a sense of dignity and dignity. The terrace has a round barrel hot spring, just like "Tsukimatsu". There is also a room type with an open-air bath made of natural granite, which makes the blissful healing of the view of Mt. Fuji even more special.

The spring quality is a strong sodium chloride salt spring, which is said to be effective for joint pain and beautiful skin. After relaxing your body and mind with the magnificent view, you can wrap yourself in a bathrobe and clink glasses on the deck terrace. Spending such a luxurious time will be the perfect reward for your everyday hard work.

The food is also noteworthy. The ingredients are seafood from Suruga, vegetables picked that morning from the restaurant's own garden, and seasonal vegetables from Izu, and dinner is creative French cuisine with an essence of Japanese cuisine. And the morning meal is a sumptuous Japanese kaiseki breakfast. The food tastes even better when enjoyed against the refreshing backdrop of the scenery.

It's not often that you can enjoy the view of Mount Fuji, a symbol of Japan and a World Heritage Site, while soaking in a private open-air bath. If you want to experience the kind of excitement that everyone envies, then be sure to visit "Fugaku Gunjo."

Fuji Ultramarine

Relax in the hot springs with your close friends, whenever you like, for as long as you like, without worrying about being seen by others. That special feeling is the charm of a room with an open-air bath. Make the time you spend at your accommodation a special memory.